<span name="style_bold">Anger - Hostility - Aggression Syndrome: Mechanisms of Coping in Patients Who have Suffered a Cardiovascular Event</span> <span name="style_bold">Introduction:</span> An association has been found between the anger - hostility - aggression syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Coping strategies for the syndrome have been identified as key components in the cardiac rehabilitation process. The aim of this study was to analyze the anger - hostility - syndrome and associated coping strategies in patients with cardiac disease. <span name="style_bold">Materials and Methods:</span> This study evaluated 19 phase two patients participating in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at the Sport Science School of the National University of Heredia, Costa Rica. Spanish versions of the Aggression Questionnaire and the Cope questionnaire were used in order to identify the anger - hostility - aggression components and the associated coping strategies. The questionnaires were applied in two steps: one was administered retrospectively and the other one week later. <span name="style_bold">Results:</span> In the retrospective assessment report, average values ranged from 1.84 to 2.51 and values were higher for the following dimensions: hostility (2.51) and verbal aggression (2.49). In the assessment of current values (non retrospective), the averages ranged from 1.73 to 3.0, with higher values noted for the dimensions of hostility (2.28) and anger (3.01). The only significant difference was found in the anger dimension which in the assessment of current values was higher than the retrospective values (p &lt;0.05). The most used coping mechanisms were: religion, social support relationships, social acceptance, planning, active problem assessment and positive reinterpretation. <span name="style_bold">Conclusion:</span> This study showed that phase two cardiac patients have a specific profile of emotional reaction and coping. These problems require psychological support during the cardiac rehabilitation process. This study showed that phase two cardiac patients have a specific profile of emotional reaction and coping. These problems require psychological support during the cardiac rehabilitation process.

anger; hostility; aggression complex; coping mechanism; cardiac patients